USS Glasgow (1863)

USS Glasgow (1863) was originally a British cross-Channel sidewheel steamer named Eugenie owned by the South Eastern Railway that was built during the early 1860s. She was sold for blockade-running duties in 1863 and was captured by the Union Navy later that year during the American Civil War. Incorporated into the Navy, she was principally used as a dispatch boat and storeship in support of the Union blockade of the ports of the Confederate States of America. Renamed Glasgow in 1864, she sank after striking an obstacle the following year, but was refloated and repaired. The ship was sold back into commercial service in 1869 and was scrapped 20 years later.

History
United Kingdom
NameEugenie
OwnerSouth Eastern Railway
RouteCross-Channel
BuilderSamuelson, Hull, UK
Launched9 July 1861
FateSold, 1863
History
United States
NameGlasgow, 21 January 1864
Acquired9 July 1863
Commissioned9 July 1863
Decommissioned17 October 1868
CapturedBy Union Navy forces, 6 May 1863
FateSold, 4 June 1869
History
United Kingdom
NameHilda
Acquired4 June 1869
FateScrapped, 1889
General characteristics
Tonnage428 gross register tons (GRT)
Tons burthen252
Length235 ft (71.6 m)
Beam24 ft 3 in (7.4 m)
Draft6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Depth11 ft 9 in (3.6 m)
Propulsion
Speed9.5 kn (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph)
Armament
  • one 12-pounder howitzer
  • one 12-pounder rifle

Blockade runner Eugenie

Glasgow was originally blockade runner Eugenie, captured off Mobile Bay 6 May 1863 by USS R. R. Cuyler. She was purchased from the Key West, Florida, Prize Court and commissioned 9 July 1863, Acting Ensign N. M. Dyer in command.

the West Gulf Blockade

Assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, Eugenie served as a dispatch boat and supply ship for the squadron between Mobile Bay and Pensacola, Florida.

Mermentau Lake, Louisiana,

Eugenie sent an expedition to Mermentau Lake, Louisiana, 22 December 1863, for the capture of two British blockade runners. schooner Derby was captured, but had to be burnt because of heavy enemy shore fire on the attacking party.

Renamed

Eugenie was renamed Glasgow 21 January 1864, and after a week repairing at New Orleans, Louisiana, in early February, was back on station with the blockading fleet off Mobile, Alabama.

Admiral Farragut

Serving mainly as dispatch boat, Glasgow aided in the destruction of blockade runner Ivanhoe under the fire of Fort Morgan 30 June 1864, and fired at an unknown blockade runner under the guns of the fort 1 July. She was present off Fort Gaines 8 August when the fort surrendered to Union forces after Admiral David Farragut's historic victory at Mobile Bay, and received the Admiral on board for a brief visit 26 November.

Sinks near Mobile, Alabama

During 1865, Glasgow continued her regular duties, and in addition served occasionally, because of her speed and light draft, as flagship of the West Gulf Squadron. She struck an obstruction and sank in shoal water off Mobile 8 May 1865, and was not raised until 19 June. Glasgow was taken to Pensacola, Florida, for repairs and returned to duty 1 July 1866.

Post war

Chosen to be retained for the post-war cruising squadron in the Gulf, Glasgow served as storeship and visited New Orleans, Lakeport, and Mexican ports until she entered the Pensacola Navy Yard for repairs 23 January 1868. Departing Pensacola 10 March, she spent another five months cruising with the squadron on the lower Mississippi River and off Pensacola, returning there 6 August 1868.

Decommissioning and sale

She decommissioned 17 October 1868 at Pensacola and was sold 4 June 1869 to Thomas McClellan.

Note

This ship should not to be confused with schooner USS Eugenie (1862).

References
  • Silverstone, Paul H. (2006). Civil War Navies 1855-1883. The U.S. Navy Warship Series. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-97870-X.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

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